Coin-freed apparatus for gramophones.



Patented Mar. [9, I901.

8. G. ROYAL.

COIN FREED APPARATUS FOR GRAMUPHUNES.

' (Application filed Nov. 13, 1899.)

(No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet I.

No. 670,062. Patented Mar. |9,.l90|. B. G. ROYAL. COIN FBEED APPARATUSFOR GRAMOPHONES.

(Application filed Nov. 13. 1899.\ v

4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Patented Mar. l9, [90L 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

B. a. ROYAL. GUIN FBEED APPARATUS FOR GBAMOPHON-ES.

(Appfication filed Nov. 13, 1899) (No Model.)

3 m: N. u

\ o o g Y 0 Q Q Wzlbwasea' vm m: norms "wins on. mom-umu, wmmom. I:v c.

No. 670,062. Patented Mar. I9, 1901. p. a. ROYAL.

COIN FREED APPARATUS FOR GRAMOPHONES.

(Application filed Nov. 13, 1899.) (No Model.)

4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

mama PEYERS cov moro-urua, vusnmuYoN r, c

Grates Farnsrr OFFICE.

BELFORD GRANT ROYAL, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE GRAMOPHONECOMPANY, LIMITED, OF SAME'PLAOE. I

COlN=FREED APPARATUS FOR GRAlVlOPHONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 670,062, dated March19, 1901.

Application filed November 13. 1899- berial No. 736,753. (No model.)

To (tZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, BELFORD GRANT ROYAL, engineer, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at 31 Maiden Lane, Covent Garden, London, in thecounty of Middlesex, England, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in and Relating to Coin-Freed Apparatus for Controlling theUse of Gramophones or the Like, (for which applications have been madein Great Britain, dated April 1t, 1899, No. 7,856; in Germany, datedJune 12, 1899; in Austria, dated June 20, 1899; in Hungary, dated June2:2, 1899, and in Russia, dated June 5/17, 1899,) of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in coin-freed apparatus forcontrolling the use of gramophones and other sound-reproducing machines.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an apparatus soconstructed as to enable gramophones or the like to be put in operationfor a certain time subject to the deposit of a suitable coin, and forthis purpose I inclose the motor mechanism of the grainephone in alocked case, together with the mechanism for controlling the operationof the motor mechanism and a receiving mechanism for the deposited coin.

A still further object of my invention is to provide mechanism forpreventing the record from rotating until the winding of the motor hasbeen completed, thus preventing the record from being scratched orotherwise mutilated.

Further objects of my invention are to provide mechanism for preventingthe winding of the motor until the proper coin has been deposited in thecoin-receiving slot; also, to provide a construction of coin-operatedlever which cannot be worked or operated by inserting wires or otherinstruments in the coinslot, thus preventing the machine from beingfraudulently operated, and also in providing means for preventing arepetition of the operation of the apparatus by the deposit of only onecoin.

My invention is distinguished from other coin -freed mechanism of thischaracter in that the selections and manipulation of the records andparts for the reproduction of the sounds are left accessible to thepublic or the payer, while only the operating and driving mechanisms arelocked against general access-that is to say, the person desiring theuse of the gramophone after duly depositing the necessary coin andwinding up the motor mechanism is not debarred from selecting andmanipulating any record of his choice and its cooperatingsound-producing parts which are exposed to view.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification,and in which similar letters of reference are used to indicate similarparts, Figure l is an elevation, partly in section, of an apparatusembodying my invention, so much of a gramophone being shown as willserve to explain my invention inits connect-ion therewith. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation of the forward end of my machine, showing theposition the coin-operating mechanism assumes when the said machine istilted. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view illustrating the controllingmechanism with the parts above the record removed and the remainingparts in the position they assume as soon as a coin has been properlylodged in the holder and by its weight tilted the operating-lever. Fig.4 is a plan view of Fig. 3 with the upper casing removed. Fig. 5 is asimilar view to Fig. 4, but showing the parts in the position theyassume as soon as the coin is released from the holder. Fig. 6 is avertical sectional view throughthe device for guarding the coin-entryagainst the entry of a wire to manipulate the coin-operating lever. Fig.7 is a view taken on the line a b of Fig. 6 looking toward the left.Fig. 8 is a view taken on the same line looking toward the right. Fig. 9is a plan view of the coinentry device. Fig. 10 is a side elevation ofthe governor used for regulating the speed of the motor. Fig. 11 is afront view of the same. Fig. 12 is a plan view showinga modified form ofthe coin-freed parts for use in cases where the coins used are too smallor light in weight to operate the mechanism. Figs. 13, 1t, and 15 aredetail views in elevation of the slidej, its lock, and the brake,illustrating the different positions these parts assume during theoperation of the machine. Fig. 16 is a face view of a claw coin-holderused in the form of machine illustrated in Fig. 12, and Fig. 17 is asimilar view showing a coin in position in said holder.

The coin-freed controlling mechanism is in my present invention broughtinto combination with the gramophone apparatus through the verticalspindle and record supports there of, the usual gramophone parts abovesuch support being left, as already stated, exposed.

The gramophone-motor here shown is a usual type of spring drivingmechanism for the purpose and consists of a spring a, connected at itsouter end to the casing a and at its inner end to the winding-spindle c,said spindle being rotatable for winding by means of a removable key I).Said spring rests on a plate a to keep it in place, mounted on the axis0. Also affixed on this spindle c is the first wheel (0 the teeth ofwhich wheel engage those of the second wheel a", and so on,successively, the motive power of the spring is conveyed throughgear-wheels a (6 and a to the gear-wheel a affixed on the spindle e ofthe record turn-table to which motion has to be imparted. a is anothergear-wheel also mounted on spindle e and engaged by the teeth of agear-wheel d of the governor mechanism provided to control the speed ofsuch rotations, as will be described.

The governor (Z, referring to Figs. 10 and 11,consists ofaframingd,supporting in bearings above and below the spindle 61 on whichis affixed the gear-wheel (P, which engages the gear-wheel a on spindlec. On the spindle d is affixed the cross-arm (P, which carries pins oraxes for the weighted arms d d the inner ends of which engage in slots dd in a flanged barrel 01 applied on spindle d and held in positionthereon by said arms and other arms d centered on pins dimounted in theframing cl". The arms cl are joined into one at the back and formed intoan upturned elbow-piece (Z in a hole, in the upper end of which ismounted a shouldered stem d, the small end thereof being passed throughsaid hole through a coiled spring (Z and by its screw-threaded end (Zbeing engaged adjustably in a corrcspondiugly-threaded hole in theframing (1, so that the distance apart of the arm (1 and the framingabout the stem (1 may be varied, and thereby'the amount of frictionalpressure exerted on the under side of the flange of the barrel (1 by theends of the arms d. The operation of this governor cl is as follows: Ifthe speed of the spindle e exceeds that to which the device is adjusted,the arms by the excessive rotary motion communicated as described flyoutwardly under the centrifugal force, and their opposite ends exert apressure on the barrel d suflicient to overcome the spring (1,interposed between the flange of the barrel and the wheel (1 bringingthat flange into frictional contact with the arms c" and impeding therevolutions thereof.

In order to prevent anyimproper operation of the winding apparatus tothe spring-motor by rotating the turn-table directly by hand in theopposite direction to that in which it is driven for use with thegrainophone parts, I mount on the spindle e a ratchetwheel 6, andengaging therewith is an ap propriately-formed end 6 properly padded toavoid any discordant noise, of an arm 6 centered at e to the plate 7L3,and this arm e is kept to its Work on the ratchet-wheel e by a slightspring 6 connected to the plate h and to said arm. By this device thespindle 6 can only be turned in the direction of the arrow 6 Anyrotation of the table is by the construction of the parts harmless inthe said direction, even when effected by hand.

f is the record turn-table mounted removably on the spindle c, bntsoasto rotate therewith.

f indicates the record bedded frictionally on the support f, and)indicates the stylus engagingthe record and the other usual parts of thegramophone for conveying the vibrations and sounds produced to the horn,partially seen at f resting on usual supports.

f indicates a series of cells for records formed in the casing g,inclosing the controlling coin-freed mechanism. In this casingg is thecoin-slot h, leading to the coin-holder. This entrance to thecoin-holder is protected against the insertion of a wire or strip inorder to fraudulently operate the lever h, (to be described,) so as tofree the winding mechanism, by a cover 0 and within the cover by atrapping device, which is shown separately by Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9,.said cover being secured to the casing, as by screws, and is providedwith a coin-slit. of size to admit of a coin of the proper size. Thecover 0 upon the casing over the entry h is, as shown, formed in twoparts for convenience of access to the interior thereof. The sides 0 ofthe part 0 are pierced to form supports for the ends of thecross-spindle 0 which carries on it the bent plate 0, between which andplate 0 each coin has to pass, the coin first passing in between the jaw0 and the openingin the side of the plate 0 at 0 and then tilting saidplate 0 inward at top until it. enters the hole 0 the coin in fallingpressing out the end 0 from the lower recess 0 of plate 0 until the coinis free and falls into the holder below. Any wire directly it pressesthe end 0 becomes trapped by the upper end of 0 The normal position ofthe plate 0 is shown in sectional view in Fig. 3 of the drawings, theslot 0 being closed by the inclined jaw 0 As soon as the coin isinserted in the slot 0 the lower edge of same comes in contact with theinclined face of the jaw 0 and tilts the plate 0 thus causing it toassume a position such as shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings, which closesthe lower end of the slot-opening by reason of the inclined end 0 comingin contact with the recess 0 The coin will then drop and in strikingagainst the end 0 tilts the plate oand returns it to normal position andat the same time allows the coin "to drop into the holder, as beforedescribed. From this construction, as described, it will be seen thatmanipulation of the coin-lever h by means of a wire or other elongatedinstrument for the purpose of fraudulently operating the machine isprevented by reason of the trap formed by the tilting lever 0 Thisconstruction also prevents a second coin from being inserted in thereceiving device until after the first coin has been dropped to thecoin-holder Below the coin-entry h is a holder into which the coin dropsand is temporarily held until it has by its weight performed itsfunction of releasing the locking means, which prevents the windingmechanism from being operated. This locking device is constructed asfollows: The holder is mounted on a lever-arm h, hinged to the supportif, mounted on plate 7L3, mounted on the spring-case a and forming partof the framing. At its opposite end this lever 71 is weighted at h, sothat on the coin falling into the reservoir, here shown as a drawer itthe lever may be replaced in its locking position. The plate 7e has alsoaffixed in it a stem 77. which forms an axis for an oscillating pawl h,which engages normally with the teeth of the ratchetwheel 0, mounted onthe upper end of the spindle 0, above the bearing thereof in the platelbs, and prevents said spindle c from being turned by the handle I). Assoon, however, as the lever h is tilted and its weighted end is raisedthe pawl 71 is drawn free of the' teeth of wheel 0 by the loop h on thelever h sliding up the staple-shaped connection 71 connected to saidpawl, and drawingitaway.

To prevent the lever 77/ from being tilted or moved relatively to thepawl it so as to free the winding apparatus in absence of a coin bytilting the entire apparatus, as partly shown in Fig. 2, a weightedswing cranked arm h is mounted on the hinge-pin h. This arm 72. as theapparatus is inclined, as indicated in Fig. 2, swings to the front,bringing the crank under the lever h and preventing it fromsinkingrelatively to thelineofplat-eh The ratchet-wheel c is formed withor connected to another wheel or diskibelow, having recesses and a pin2', forming a tooth, adapted to engage the teeth of the star-wheel tmounted on the axist' the wheel t' performing one complete revolution toeach operation on the wheel F. The notches provided on the periphery ofthe wheel 7? are cut in about one half of said periphery, the other halfbeing smooth and concentric to the axis of the wheel, as illustrated inFigs. 4, 5, and 12 of the drawings. The circumference of the wheelbetween each of the notches is curved on a radius equal to that of thedisk t', and the said notches are so distanced as to admit of theengagement of the pin 11 on each complete revolution of the disk t'.This constrnction prevents the spring a from being wound too right,because after the pin 1 has engaged the last notch in the wheel t itwill come in contact with the smooth periphery of said wheel and preventthe further revolution of the Winding-shaft. During the operation of themachine and the unwinding of the motor-spring the wheel t and disk 1'revolve in the opposite direction, and in this case the star-wheellimits the unwinding of the spring, and thus prevents said spring frombecoming too loose, which would render it liable to be disengaged orunhooked from its fastenings. The winding mechanism of the arbor 0having been freed from its lock bythe coin and coin-lever, the windingup of the spring-motor having been completed, and the star-wheel 2'having been fully rotated, such rotation will have brought one of twoprojections fixed thereonviz., fi-with its inclined side foremost underthe pin j, projectingfrom the side of a latch j, mounted on al1inge-pinj,afliXed in the side of the slidej'. By the passage of this incline iunder the pin j it lifts it, and thereby the latch j freeing the innerend thereof from its abutment against the stop on the plate 7L3,permitting said slide-barj to be pushed inwardly against the pullingstrain of the spring j connected at opposite ends to the said slide andto the plate h so as normally to force out said slide-bar. This pushinginward of the slide-bar presses its inclined end j upon the pin 70,projecting from the brake-plunger 7t, which slides in the tube 70 and iskept normally pressed up against the revolving disk f by the coiledspring 10 located in the said tube below the plunger 7t, causing the pin70' to release the plunger is from its frictional contact with the diskfand permit its revolution and the consequent operation of thegramophone to be effected. This inward movement of the slidej by a pin jshifts one end of an arm j on which is formed a hook or claw 7' said arm7' claw 7 and an arm or flat platej with its hooked endj forming thecoin-holder referred to when they are in the relative positionsrepresented by Fig 4; but as soon as the slide j displaces arm 7' itsclaw f by its grip on the coin pulls it away from the parts j and 1",even should it be smeared with adhesive matter, and the coin drops freeinto the'drawer below. The pin j extends below the pushbar j and iscurved slightly, as indicated in Fig. lof the drawings, the radius ofthis curve being equal to the distance between the pivotal point of thelever h and that of the arm 7' so as to permit the said lever h todescend under the action of the coin. A stop-pinj is provided throughthe end of the curved pin 7' to limit the downward movement of the lever77. and to prevent the disengagement of the arm 9' from said pin 7' Assoon as the spindle e'has run its full number of revolutions and thewheelwork has resumed its original position, bringing the star-wheelalso back to its starting position, the other projection f, provided onthe face of the wheel 2' mounted thereon, is pressed with its inclinedsurface under the pin j. That pin again lifts the latch j and releasesits outer end, (see Fig. 15,) which during the time the inclined end 7'was engaged with the spring brakeplunger was engaged with the stop 70already referred to, and as soon as this latch j is free from the stop10 it flies back to the position shown in Fig. 4 and releases the brake7t, allowing it to resume its frictional pressure on the disk f,preventing revolution. The effectof this retention of the slide-bar y'bythe latch and stop and the holding back of the brake-plunger is topermit the record to complete its revolutions with the disk fand thenauton'latically by the release of the latch and the springing back ofthe slide-bar j to reset the parts for another coin-freed operation.

Referring to Fig. 12, which shows a modification in the parts forholding and discharging the coin used as the operative link in the trainof mechanism adapted for use Where the weight of the coin is too smallto be efficient as a motive power to tilt the lever h of thepreviously-described arrangement. Herein the said articulated hol lerj jj j is replaced by a claw-holder 1", mounted on the end of a slide-rod9", having its bearing in a hole 0" in the casing g and being providedwith a ban dle W, a spring r causing said rod 1" to be constantlytending to project from the casing, as shown. Any pressing in of theslide-rod '1' without a coin in holder 0" will be inoperative; but assoon as a coin is in position in said holder 0' the coin when pressedtoward the ends of the levers comes in contact therewith and turns it onits center-pin 5 bringing said hooked end 3 into engagement with thehooked projection t on the slide j, (which is in other respects acounterpart of the slide j of Figs. 1, 4, 5, 13, 14, and 15.) The end 8'isturned up at right angles to the lever s, and the projection 25 hasits inner end bent downwardly, but inclined, so as to be engaged by theturned-up end 3, with a wedge effect, so as to hold said lever inengagement with the projection t until released in the mannerhereinafter described. This engagement is just sulficient to hold theend .5" of lever s in that position during the winding operation on thespindle c, as already detailed. This movement of lever 3 draws theopposite end .9 thereof outward, and by reason of its connection to thepawl h by the staple-shaped connection 7Z9, afflxed to said pawl,(substantially as shown in Fig. 3,) that pawl 71 is drawn free of theteeth of the ratchet-wheel c,-and the winding can be effected. As soonas the winding has been completed the slide-baris pushed in, with theresult that the hook parts 3 and t are removed from engagement, lever 8,under the influence of spring 1*, flies back to the position indicatedby the full lines, and the arm t carrying the pin i moves to the rightand meeting the coin in the holder 4' pushes it out therefrom, causingit to fall in to the reservoir-the drawer h -below. The inclined endjperforms the same functions in connec tion with the brake is and isretained by latch parts, as seen in Figs. 13, 14, and 15 and alreadydescribed, so that repetition is unnecessary. The form of the holder 0"in front elevation is shown by detail views, Figs. 16 and 17, with theabsent and present coin, respectively, also the slot 7', into which thearm .9 is entered idly when no coin is present to cause engagement.

Access to the interior of the case may be obtained by removing the upperportion g of the casing 9.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that I have provided amachine which is comparatively simple in its construction and positivein its operations and so constructed that it is almost an impossibilityto beat or defraud the same byfraudulent manipulation.

While I have described the simplest form of mechanism for carrying outmy invention, it will of course be understood that various changes inthe construction and arrangement of parts might be effected Withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the said invention. Hence I donot desire to be limited to the exact details as shown and described.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is a 1. In a coin-controlledtalking-machine,the combination with the'winding-shaft of its motor, ofa ratchet-wheel secured to the upper portion of said shaft, a pivotedpawl adapted to engage the said ratchet, a lever pivoted to themotor-frame adapted to be operated by the weight of the coin, a staplehaving one arm connected to the pawl, and its other arm looselyconnected to the pivoted lever whereby upon the tilting of the forwardend of said lever the pawl is withdrawn from engagement with itsratchet, and upon the return of said lever to normal position, the pawlis thrown into engagement with its ratchet.

2. In acoin-controlled talking-machine,the combination with themotor-winding mechanism, of mechanism for holding the same locked, apivoted lever having a coin receiving and holding device at one end,connections between the other end of said lever and the lockingmechanism whereby upon the tilting of said lever by the action of thecoin said winding mechanism is released, and a weighted crank-armpivoted at the fulcrumpoint of the coin-lever for the purpose,substantially as described. I

3. In a coin-controlled talking-machine,the combination with the motor,of mechanism for preventing the winding of said motor until after thecoin has been deposited, means for locking the record turn-table againstrotation, and mechanism for releasing such locking mechanism upon thecompletion of the winding of the motor, substantially as described.

4. In a coin-controlled talking-machine, the combination with the motormechanism, of

means for preventing the winding of said motor until after the coin isdeposited, a springbrake adapted to bear against the recordtahle, andlock it against rotation, a pushbar for operating the spring-brake, andmeans for locking said push-bar against operation until after the motorhas been wound up.

5. In acoin-controlled talking-machine,the combination with the motor,means for preventing the winding of said motor until after the coin isdeposited, aspring-brake adapted to bear against the record-table andlock it against rotation, at push-bar for operating the said brake, alocking device for preventing the operation of the push-bar until afterthe motor has been wound, and means for automaiically unlocking saidpush-bar simultaneously with the completion of the winding for thepurpose described.

(3. In a coin-controlled talking-machine,the combination with the motormechanism, of means for preventing the winding of said moto'r untilafter the coin is deposited, a braking device adapted to bear against,and lock the record-table against rotation, a push-lever for operatingthe brake device, a locking device for preventing the operation of thepushbar until after the motor is wound, means for automaticallyunlocking said push-bar im mediately upon the completion of the windingof the motor, mechanism for holding the push-bar in contact with therecord-table brake, and means for automatically releasing said push-barand returning the same to normal position, as the motor runs down.

7. In a coin-controlled talking-machine,the combination with the motormechanism, of a pivoted lever adapted to be operated by the weight of acoin, mechanism connected with said lever for locking and releasing thewinding-shaft, a single-tooth wheel secured on said winding-shaft, astar-wheel journaled on the motor-frame having its teeth out on aportion of its periphery and adapted to be engaged by the single-toothwheel and limit the winding and unwinding of the motor, substantially asdescribed.

8. In a coin-controlled talking-machine,th combination with the motormechanism of a pivoted lever adapted to be operated by the weight of acoin, mechanism connected with said lever for locking and unlocking thewinding-shaft, a single-tooth wheel secured on said winding-shaft,astar-wheel journaled on the motor-frame adapted to be engaged by thesingle-tooth wheel, a push-bar for releasing the record turn-table, andmechanism actuated by the star-wheel for releasing the pusl1-lever uponthe completion of the winding of the motor, substantially as described.

9. In a coin-controlled talking-machine,the combination with the motormechanism, of a pivoted lever adapted to be operated by the weight of acoin, mechanism connected with said lever forlocking and unlocking thewinding-shaft of the motor, a single-tooth wheel secured on thewinding-shaft, a star-wheel journaled on the motor-frame adapted toengage the said single-tooth wheel, an inclined lug formed on the uppersurface-0f said starwheel, a push-bar for releasing the recordtable, alocking device for said push-bar, a pin projecting laterally from saidlocking device adapted to be engaged and raised by the inclined lug onthe star-wheel, at the time of completion of the winding of the motor,substantially as described.

10. The combination with the pivoted coinlever having mechanism forreleasing the winding-shaft of the motor, of a push-lever for releasingthe record-table locked against movement until after the coin has beendeposited and the motor wound up,a coin-holding device secured to theforward end of the pivoted lever, an arm pivoted to the pushrod and tothe coin holder, and a finger formed on said arm adapted to bear againstthe coin and help hold it in the holder and to displace it when thepush-rod is operated, substantially as described.

11. The combination with a gramophone,of a pivoted lever operated by theweight of the coin for unlocking the windingshaft of the motor,a-ratchet secured on the turn-table spindle, and a pawl secured on theframe of the motor adapted to engage the teeth of said ratchet andprevent the turn-table from being turned in a backward direction to windup the motor.

12. The combination with the pivoted coinlever having mechanism forreleasing the winding-shaft of the motor, a plunger adapted to bearagainst the underside of the turntable and lock the same until after thecoin has been deposited and the motor wound up,

a push-rod adapted to operate said plunger to release the turn-table,and mechanism actuated by the winding of the motor for locking thepush-rod, substantially as described.

13. A coin-receiver comprising an outer casing, having a channel in itscentral por tion, a slot of'a size sufficient to admita coin provided inthe top of said casing, a tongue located in the channel pivotallymounted in the side walls of the casing, a flange formed on the lowerend of said channel adapted to close the lower end of the slot when thetongue is in normal position, a jaw formed on the upper edge of thetongue adapted to close the upper end of the slot when the tongue hasbeen tilted by the weight of the coin, and a groove formed in the frontWall of the channel into which the jaw of the tongue rests when the saidtongue is in an inclined position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- IJGSSGS.

BELFORD GRANT ROYAL. Witnesses:

ALFRED GEORGE BROOKES, FREDC. HARUS.

